Portioning apparatus



Dec. 27, 1927.

I L. L. KNOX PoRTIoNING APPARATUS Filed'April 14, 1924 3 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Dec. 27, 1927.

L. L. KNOX PORTIONING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec.'27, 1927. 1,653,807

L. L. KNOX PORTIONING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fio Ll (l Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

Leraar:`

NITED STATES PATENT" OFFECE.

neri-inn L. KNOX, or BELLEVUE, rENNsYLvANIa, fissrsNon 'ro KNOX rnonUoTs Colvi- PaNY, or rirrsnnnen, PENNSYLVANIA, A oonronATIoN or PENNSYLVANIA.

ron'rioNrNs APPARATUS.

'llie present invention relates broadly to dispensing apparatus, and incre particularly to apparatus i'or forming bulli butter into portions or prints oit a unilorm size.

Butter is usually shipped trom the creameries in wooden tubs.

to receive the contents ot oneor morev tubs and to dispense the `saine in portions'having a n'feight, tor example, o1u one vor several pounds.

A preferred embodiment ot the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation ol the apparatus; Figure 2 is a section on the line ll-l ot Figure 1;

Figure 3 `is a section on a largerscale ot a portion ot the apparatus; e

Figure Ll is a fragmentary view on a lareer scale or the means `lor dividing the spaced metal walls, the space between which is lilled with a suitable heat insulating material Fitting in the vessel 5 at its `upper end is a ring 7 'having a horizontal flange 8 extending over said upper endyand seated on said flange is a cover 9. Fitting in the lower end ot the vessel is a removable bottom 10 which is hollow andlllled with heat insulating material 11. rlhis bottoni is mounted upon the upper end o'l a threadu ed post 12 which is screwed intoan internelly-threaded sleeve `13 projecting downwardly lroin the center olthe upper `horizontal plate 1d Ot the bottoni. `Projecting upwardly from the base 2 is a hollow column 15 secured to the upper end ot which is the housing shown in detail in Figure 5.

rlfhis housing has a vertical curved wall 16" secured at its lower edge to a flange 17 on the upper end ot the hollow column and? The purpose ot the invention is to provide apparatus adapted Y appellation and spruit, 1921i. serial Nevoeass.

cut away on one side and a horizontal wall 18 provided with a central Opening to receive "thepost 12. lriiranged `between the :tl-ange 17 and wall `18 is* a" nut 19.- `This nut isgn'iounted on the post 12 and has spaced openings 20 accessible through the cut-away portion ot the wall 16, whereby the nut may be turned by means Ot a suitable tool to raise l or lower the post 12, suitable ball bearings'y 21 being arranged between the upper and lower faces `of the nut and the flange 1T and wall 18. rl`he base 2 is provided withV an opening 22 beneath the hollow column 15 to receive the post 12 when the same is lowered. N

Mounted within the outer vessel 5 ytor rotation about a vertical axis is an inner vessel V having spaced cylindrical walls 23 and 24 providing a cylindrical container 25 for the material to be portioned surrounded by a jacket space 26` adapted to be lled with a suitable relirigerating material, "such as cracked ice. The walls 23 and 2s are connected at their lower ends by a downwardly and outwardly inclined annular wall 27, and extending downwardly from `the lower edge of said wall is an integral vertical annular flange 28- which is odset outwardly from the wall 2a. Slidably fitted within the llange 28 isa bottom 29 for the container 25. This bottom has a central annular cone-shaped wall 30 substantially parnular outwardly flared space 31 between said f walls through which the material is extruded from the container 25. The space 31 coininunicates at its lower end with a vertical annular passage 32 adjacent the periphery ot thebottoin 29, and arranged in this annular vertical passage is a series of equallyspaced radial partitions Bhaving oppositely beveled knife edges 3d at their upper ends, p whereby to divide the extruded material into a plurality ot vertical bars. The openings between the partitions 32 are preferably rectangular so as to lqivethe bars a corresponding cross section. rlhe thickness ot the partitionsis such as to ensure a sutlicientspacing ol. the bars of extruded material `toprevent such bars tromsticlring together after `passico ingl through the openings between the partiinterposed betwecnthe plate lill and the bot tom 29. rllhe bottom 29 is detaehably secured to the bottoni 10 by catches 3G mounted"to-turnd on bolts 37 carried by the plate let and spaced from said plate by sleeves 38 surrounding the bolts. These catches are adapted to be turned into a position to project overa flange 39 on the bottom Q9, being spaced slightly above such flange by the sleeves 38 in` Order not to retard rotation of the bottoint) and parts carried thereby. By loosening nutsl() (inthe upper endsk of the bolts 37, the :catches 36 can be turned into a position to permit the bottom 10 to be separated from the bottom 2S),

the outer vessel 5 is a ring al having a hori- Zontal inwardly-extending `flange 42, and in- `upper endof the wall 9A andthat the inner wall Ll5 of the opening 32 surrounds the edge of the plate 14, whereby the inner Vessel V is maintainedin correct position during rota tion thereof. i

A plateyl is mounted upon the upper sides of the channels a and has an opening therein to receive a vertical screw-threaded stein 47 having a longitudinal` groove 48 extending from end to end thereof in which engages a` projection 49 on the plate, whereby the stem is permitted to sli-de through the opening in said plate but is held against turning` therein. `A nut 50 engaging the stem 47 is held for rotation in ball bearings 5l ontlie upper side of the plate 46 by a retaining member 52. The lower end of the stem is screwed into a sleeve 53, and rotatably mounted on the latter is a plunger 5st working in the container 25. ball bearings being provided toireduce friction between the sleeve and plunger.

The nut 50 has vfast therewith a large gear 5G which meshes with a pinion 57 on the upper end of a. vertical shaft 58 slidably mounted in one of the A-shapedstandards 3. The upper end portion of this shaft extends between the channel members 4 and through a plate 59 extending across and-resting upon the upper sides of said channel.` A collar 60 on the pinion 57 engages this plate and limits the downward movement of the shaft 5S. The lower end of the shaft 5S has a bevel pinion `61 thereon meshing with a bevel pinion 62 on a transverse shaft (Si mounted in a bearing block Get and extending through a `vertical slot 65 inthe vessel 5. .A small bevel pinion 66 is secured to the inner end of the shaft 63=and meshes with a ring gear 67 mounted on the upper edge ofv the offset `vertical flange 2S at the lower end of the rotary vessel V, The shaft GEB is Fitted in the ring7 at the upper end of` 73 at one end thereof in engagen'ient with said bearing block. By turning the lever 7575 into a Vertical position, the bearing block can be raised to disengage the bevel pinion titi` from the ring gear 67 and held in such position by said cam portion. The shaft 5S will be raised simultaneously with the raising of the bearing block but this will not causo the pinion 57 tobecoine disengaged lfrom `the gear ,-56 for the reason that the pinion 57 considerably thicker than the gear 56.

The bottom l0 of the outer vessel 5 `has a peripheral horizontal flange 7st offset considerably below the upper face of said bottoni and positioned directly beneath the annnlar opening 32 in the bottom QS) of the container`25. The bars of material are ex truded into the annular space 75 above said flange and are adapted to be divided into portions of a` predetermined length by a cutter in the form of a wire 76 positioned in the space 7 5 and extending horizontally across theopening 32 and substantially in Contact with the lower edges of thewalls defining said-opening. A post 77 rises from the outer edge of the flange 74 and has a lateral projection 78 at its upper end. A pin 7S) is mounted in said projection and held in adjusted position by lock nuts 80. lro-` jeeting from the vertical wall Blof the bottom l0 and integral therewith is a vertical sleeve 82 in whichis slidably mounted a screw 8S held in adjusted position by lock nuts Sel. The screw 83 has a vertical lugl projecting from its upper end in which slldably mounted a horizontal" screw Sti.

The wire cutter 7G is fastened at one end to the upper end of the pin 7) andiat its other end to a lugl 87 on one end of the screw 8G. A nu t 8S mounted on the sere w Sli and engaging the lug enables the wire to be giron the. proper tension. As clearly shown .in Figure 1L the wire 7G is arranged on a diagonal to the faces of the partitions 323. The angle of inclination of the wire to said faces can be varied by loosening the lock nuts 84 and turning the screw 83 `to vary the posi' tion of the .lug 85. It will also be apparent tliatathe vertical position of the wire can be adjusted by adjustment of the pin 7S) and screw 83.

The flange 7l has a rectangular opening 89 therein directly j beneath the wire 7G `to permit the severed portions of the material to drop onto a shelf 90 carried by the hottom l0.

lll)

lilo

lll() lill Secured to the upper end of the stem -17 is an arm 91 integral with the outer end of which is a downwardly extending arm 92 having a pointer 93 on its lower end for cooperation with a vertical scale 94 carried by one of the standards 3 and having graduations thereon to indicate the quantity of material in the container 25.

The operation of the apparatus `is as follows: assuming the parts to be in the relative positions illustrated in Figure 2` with the container 25 empty, the lever 72 will be turned into a vertical position to cause the cam to raise the bearing block 64 and disengage the pinion 66 from the ring; gear 6T. The handle 68 will then be turned in a direction to raise the stem 47 and the plunger 54. As the plunger leaves the. upper end of the container 25, it engages and carries the cover 9 with it. Then the plunger and cover have been raised to a sufficient elevation to give ready access to the container' 25 and space 26, the latterl may be filled ywith ice and the container may have the contents of one or more tubs of butter placed therein. Since the tubs are usually of frustro-coni -al form. the contents thereof will have the same form when first placed in the container. After the butter has been placed in the container. the handle 68 will be turned in a direction to lower the plunger into the upper end of the container and reset the cover 9 on the flange 8. The handle will be further rotated to compress the butter in the container to bring it to the cylindrical form of the container. The abrupt change. in direction caused by the outward flare of the annular passage 31 and the consequent friction between the walls 2T and 30 enables suflicient `pressure to be brought upon the butter in the container to bring it into this cylindrical form without forcing any substantial amount of the. butter vinto the passage 31. The lever 72 will now be 4turned into tl horizontal position shown in Figure 1, thereby permitting` the `bevel pinion 66 to engage the ring gear 67. At this point, the position of the pointer 93 on the scale 94 may be noted in order to determine the quantity of butter in the container. Further vrotation of the handle 68 in the same direction as previously will cause the plunger 54 to force the butter through the inclined annular space `31 and through the annular passa ge or opening32, the butter being divided-by the partitions 33 into a plurality of vertical bars as it is extruded through the oiiiening.

The rotation of the container causes the wire cutter 76 to successively engage and cut transversely through the several bars.1 Since the butter is being extruded at a uniform rate through all of the openings between the partitions, the first complete revolution of the container will result in vportions be ing, cut from the several bars .varying in produced.

length from substantially zero to a maximum. After one complete revolution of the container, the rotation thereof may be stopped and the unequal portions of the butter removed from the shelf and replaced in the container. Of course, it will be apparent that, in order to do this, it willbe necessary to again disengae'e the bevel pinion` 66 from the ring gear 67 and operate the handle 68 in a direction to remove the plunger from the container. Vhen these unequal portions of the butter have been replaced in the container, the handle 68 may be turned in a direction to cause the `plunger tacompact them with the remainder of the butter inthe container before the pinion G6 is again. brought into engagement with the `gear 67. The rotation of the container may now be resumed and portions of uniform length will be cut from the extruded bars by the cut ter 76. It will be apparent that once. the machine has been put in operation in this manner, the passage 31 and opening 32 will always remain filled with butter, so that the above described preliminary operation involving,` the replacing in the container of the portions of butter cut during the first revolution thereof rwill be unnecessary. The position of the pointer 93 on the scale 9e will always indicate the quantity of butter in the container 25, so that when the supply belll) comes low, a further supply of butter may y be placed in the container. Vhen it is. desired to clean the container and its bottom, the bottom can be separated `from the container by turning the nut 19 to lower the post inthe hollow column 15. During the first portion of the downward movement of the post, the bottom will be drawn down with it and the inner' vessel V will also move downwardly with the bottom until a flange 95 projecting from the wall 24 comes into engagement with lugs 96 fastened to the inner wall of the outer vessel 5. Further downward movement of the bottom will separate the same from the container, and the nuts 40 may then be loosened and the catches 36 turned into a position to permit removal of the bottom 29 from the bottom 10 for cleaning. When the vessel V is in its lowered position, the lower' end thereof will be readily accessible for cleaning,` through the lower end of the outer vessel 5.

It has been found in actual practice that the provision of a cutting' wire in substantial contact with the walls defining` the discharge ope-ning in an apparatus of the present char# acter is extremely important. If the cutting` wire becomes spaced even to a very small extent from such discharge end, the butter beingcut thereby is rolled over and Vover beneath the wire so that clean even cuts are not Furthermore, the butter noty being supported substantially in the plane of cut-ting results in a rough uneven tearing or breaking thereof. In accordance With the present invention, by means of the adjustments provided, the cutting` Wire can always be maintained in or substantially in contact with the discharge end 'of the apparatus.

It is also of importance to provide a. cut ting.,r Wire of the character described herein 1which is so arranged that it is maintained at all times out of parallelismwith any of the walls of the discharge openings. `Due `to its location, the tinal shearing eii'ect is concentrated on a comparatively small corner of an iinlividual bar of extrudingl butter, thereby insuring the severing and dropping of the desired length therefrom. lWhere it is attempted to out a substantial length of a bar, suclnfor exan'iple, as represented by one of the snlallcr din'iensions of an ordinary pound print of butter, difficulty is encountered in producing a clean cut. This is entirely obviated in accordance with the present invention.

In the operation of an apparatus of the character herein disclosed, it will be apparent that the gearingmay be varied as desired for controlling the lengths cut at each operation, cr different screw-threaded stems may be substituted with threads havingdifferent pitches to determine the amount extruded between successive cutting operations. In either event, however, during' the operation of the apparatus, there will be a uniform relative movement between thematerial being extruded and the cutting means. This uniformity is highly desirable, it entirely eliminates any throwing of the sevcred units, such as occurs when the cutting wire is given an accelerated or non-uniform cutting movement.

lVhile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment et my invention, it will be understood that changes may bernade in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A portioning` machine, comprising a container for the material to be portioned, means for extruding the material from one end ot the container, means at said end of the` container defining' au -outwardlyiiared annular `passage for `the material,

nleans at the outer end of said passage for causingthe material `to he extruded in a plurality of bars, a cutter' arranged adjacent said passage, and means for producing relative movement between said cutter and con# taincr for cutting the bars into portions, substantially as described. f

2. A` portioning machine, comprising a container for the material to be portioned, means for extruding the material from one end of the container, means at `,said end of saidcontainer detining a passage for the material. inclined abruptly to the arisot the tl. A portioning machine, con'iprising a container for the material. to be portioncd, n'ieans for extruding the material. from one end of `the container, means at said end of the container definingl an`"entitardly-ilared annular passage `for the niaterial and terininating1 in an annular tipeiiiiug,w ha vinpvmeaus therein for dividing the material into a plurality of bars, a cutting edge extending transversely across said Aannular olicning' substantially in contact with the walls delining said opening, andmea'ns for prorluciup` relative rotation between said cutter and container for cutting said bars into portions, substantially as described. i

Ll. il. portioning machine, comprising, a container for the material to be portioned, means for cxtrudinggj the material. from one end of the container, means at said end of the container defining' an outwardly-flarcd annular passage for the material and terminating in an annular opening` having means therein for dividing` the material into a plurality of bars, a cutting edge extending transversely across said annular opening; substantially in contact with the walls dclininfr said opening, and means for producing substantially uniform relative rotation between said cutter and container for cutting said bars into portions, substantially as dcscribed. i i

:1A portioning machine, comprising a container for the material to be portioned having* an outivardly-flared annular wall at one end thereof, a cone-shapeifl wall Within said annular Wall. and defining therewith and outwardly-llarcd annular pas rae, means for extruding the material Within said container through `said passage, means at the outer end of said passage for divitlingl the material into a plurality of liars, a cutter', and means for producing,r relative rotation between said cutter and container' for cutting` said bars into portions, substantially as described.

(5.1K portioning machine, comprising a rotatably mounted container' for the material to be portioned., means at one end of said container defining an outWardly-llared annular passage, means `ttor extracting the ma; terial Within said container through said passage, means at the' outer end of said pas-` sage for causing the material. to be extruded therefrom in a plurality 'of bars, a stationd ary cutter, and means for rotating said container to cause said cutter to sever said bars into portions, substantially as described.

` T. A portioning machine, coinlu'isinfg, a ro tatably mounted container for the :material lll) to be portioned, means at one end of said.

therefrom in a nluralitv ot bars extendin' .f b

'parallel to the airis ot `the container, a stationary cutter, and means tor rotating said container to cause said cutter to sever said bars into portions, substantially as described` 8. i portioning machine, comprising a container for the material to be portioned, means ttor crtruding theinaterial `from one on l olf the contaii'ier, a bottom tor said'end ot the container having means for causing the material to bc extruded in a plurality ot bars, a cutter, means for prodi'lcing relative mo vement between said cutter and bottom tor cutting said bars into portions, and means tor producing relative movement between said container and bottom to separate said bottom' Yfrom said container, substantially as described.

E). il portioning machine, comprising a contained `for the material to be portioned, means :tor extruding the material trom one end ot the container', a bottom for said end ot the container having means for causing the material to be extruded in a phiralitj,T of bars, a cutter, means tor rotating said container and bottom to cause said cutter to cut said bars into portions, a support for said bottom upon which the latter ,is rotatably mounted, and means tor adjusting said support to separate said bottom trom said con tainer, substantially described.

l0. it portioning machine, comprising a container tor the material to be portioned container, a bottom'tor said end ot the container rotatable With the latter, said bottom having an opening therein and means in said opening tor causing the material to be e..truded therethrough in a plurality ot bars, a support upon "which said bottom is rota* ibly mounted, means for rotating said container' and bottoni, a cutting edg-e entend# infr across and in substantial contact with the oit c id opening for cutting said bars into portions, and means ror adjusting said port v i to separate said bottom ii m or eng it with said container, substantially as described. h

il. it portioniug machine, comprising a rotdahinY mounted container for the material be portioned, a plunger Working in said container tor causing the material to be extruded therefrom, said container having a relatively small oritice for causing the material to be extruded in bar torni, a cutter for cutting' the extruded material into portions upon rotation ot said container, operating means tor simultaneously rotating said container and moving, said plunger therein, and means for disconnecting said operating means from said container Without disconnecting it trom said plunger, whereby1 to permit said plunger to be moved in the op positc direction by said operating means Without rotating said container, substantially as described.

l2. ifi. portioning machine, comprising a support, a vessel supported thereby, a `container l'o'r the material to be portioned arranged Within said vessel for rotation `about a vertical axis, means tor causing the material to be extruded through the lou'er end of said container, a bottom for said end ot the container rotatable with the latter, said bottom haring an opening therein and means in said opening tor causing the material to be extruded therethrough in a. plurality of bars, cutter arranged adjacent said opening for cutting said bars into portions upon rotation oi: `said container, means tor rotating said container', a support upon Which said bottom is rotatablyv mounted, means for adjusting said support to simultaneously lower said bottom and container, and means for limiting downward movement ot said container, whereby tui-ther lowering ot said support separates said bottom from said container, substantially as described.

13. A portioning machine, comprising a container for the material to be portioned `mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and having a removable bottom through which the material is adapted to be extruded in bar form, a plunger device in said container for causing extrusion of the material therein, a cutter arranged adjacent said bottom for cutting the extruded material into portions upon rotation of said container, means for rotating said container and simultaneouslgT causing the extrusion of the material through said bottom, a support upon which said bottom is rotatablT mounted, meanstor adjusting' said support to Withdran7 said bottom from vsaid container, and means detachably securing said bottom upon said support, substantially1 as described.

lil. A portioning machine, comprising a. container for the material to be portioned, said container having a bottom provided With passages tor the material inclined abruptly to the axis of the container, said passages merging into orifices having' their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the axis ot the container, means for extruding the material from the container through said passages, a cutter adjacent the orihces, and means for producing relative movement between the cutter and bottom for cutting the extruded bars into portions, substantially as described.

i5. In a portioning machine, av container tor the material to be portioned, said container having an annular discharge opening ol' materially` dillerent diameter than the diameter of the container, means Ytor extrudnig material from the container through Said opening, and means for severing the ex-l truded material. p

16. In a portioning machine, a container it'orthe material to be portioned. said eontainer having.;- an annular discharge opennpT oit materially dili'erent diameter than the diameter of the Container, means for en? trading material tromtlie container through said opening', and means for severing` the extruded material, said means `comprieinl a entter adjacent Said opening- .said entter and "container hein@ relatively movable.

I7. In a portioningmachine, a eontaner fior the material to he portioned, said container having an annular discharge opening of materially diilerent diameter than the d1- anieter oi the Condi-ainerj and lnovided with a plurality ott individual outlet iiassiage.

18. In a portioning machine, a eontainr for the material to be portioned, said container having an annular discharge opening el? materially dili'erent diameter than 'the diameter o the container, and provided with a plurality ot' substantially spaced rectangular outlet passages.

19. In a portioning machine, a container, a `bottom for said container having an extrnsion opening, a support vfor said bottom, meansor adjusting Said support to withdraw Lthe bottom, andmeans detaehahly securing the support and betteln.

E20. In a pertioninl maeliine, a container,

`,a bottoni for said container having an ex.-

trusion opening', a support for said bottom, means tor adjusting` said support to with dran' the bottom and container. means limiting 4the withdrawal movement ot container, and means detachalily securing the support and bottom.

21. In a portioiling;l maehnej a container ilor the nlaterial to he Vportionml, Said emitainer having an annular discharge `opening ot' materially dillerent dian'ieter than the container, means tor extrnding material 'from the container through said openiilg, and means; :tor severing the extruded ma terial, said moana` eoml'irieing' a cutter ad jacent said (.pening and adjustable relative- Iy to said container. a

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LUTHER L. KNOX.` 

